News

Council talk goes on line

TWEETERS, bloggers and journalists will now be allowed to issue digital reports and comments from council meetings thanks to a revolutionary Parliamentary Order.

The Order, signed by Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles, will allow press and public to film and digitally report from all public meetings of local government bodies. The boost for local democracy and the independent free press will include councils all across England.

Broadcasters, national and local press, bloggers and the public will be able to transmit directly from meetings under the new law.

Mr Pickles said: “Local democracy needs local journalists and bloggers to report and scrutinise the work of their council and, increasingly, people read their news via digital media. The new ‘right to report’ goes hand in hand with our work to stop unfair state competition from municipal newspapers – together defending the independent free press.”

Sedgemoor District Council confirmed they will allow digital recording in public meetings. The council’s previous ruling that no digital recordings can be taken will be changed and updated at a future meeting.